Closure device



Oct. 20, 1936. I Q IMS 2,057,850

CLOSURE DEVICE Filed March 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HTTOQNE).

0., SIMS CLOSURE DEVICE Oct. 20, 1936.

Filed March 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 we/9e Patented Got. 20, 1936 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFIE Application March 14,

11 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to closure members in general, including devices such as doors, shutters, windows and the like, and particularly to a closure device which can be compacted by telescoping its several parts.

It will be readily apparent from the description herein, that a device of this nature finds a very wide field of application. For instance, as a disappearing door for garages, warehouses, markets and the like where it is desired to provide a closure device that when not in use will be out of the way and will not take up a great amount of room. Likewise, among other things my device is readily adapted for use as a window shutter and as an emergency fire wall.

My invention comprises generally a plurality of nested or telescoping channel sections supported one by the other and adapted to be extended from their nested position, to form the necessary closure body. The movement of the channels can be accomplished manually or mechanically as desired.

It is an object of my invention to provide a collapsible or telescoping closure device of such design that when it is in compacted position, it occupies a minimum of space immediately above the opening for which it is intended.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a closure device which will be rugged in construction and which will withstand heavy impacts without being warped or sprung.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a closure device which will be a very good insulator against heat while at the same time being substantially fireproof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a door or other closure device which can be quietly and efiectively operated mechanically so that it can be utilized in buildings such as hospitals, garages and the like. These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred and alternate form of my device.

In that my invention finds one of its most ready applications in garage doors, I will illustrate it in this connection, but it is to be understood that this is merely illustrative and that particular terms used in connection therewith are used solely for the purpose of clarity and to present a more graphic description of one form of my device.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a preferred form, one-half showing the door closed and the other 1934, Serial No. 715,570

half broken away to show the door in open position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken at 2--2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of a portion of two channels showing detail construction.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a modified form of door showing one-half open and one-half closed.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective of three channels.

Fig. dis a fragmentary section taken at G6 in Fi 5.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary front elevation of the door showing a modified form of channel hanger.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section of the door of Fig. 7 with the channels nested.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral l0 indicates a boxed door frame head comprising a top sill H and sides 12 and I3 spaced apart to provide a recess the length of the head. The head l0 may be supported by two pairs of door posts l4 and I5 resting upon a sill I6. The size of the door frame can, of course, vary between wide limits depending on the particular use to which the door is put. Extending the full height of the door posts and up into the recess of head I0 are a pair of guide ways I1 and I8, each formed of two vertical supporting members preferably formed as angle irons ll--A and B, and l8-A and B respectively, which may be of steel, tied together at intervals by short horizontal straps such as the ones indicated by the numerals l9 and 20.

A series of nesting channels 2| are provided which are of sufiicient length to fit in the door frame extending horizontally between the posts l4 and I5. These channels 2| may be made of any suitable material, but I prefer to use a sheet metal which can be easily stamped. Each channel is formed of a central section or top 22 and two side walls 23 and 24 extending downwardly from the top at say approximately The lower edges of channel sides 23 and 24 are bent inwardly and back upon themselves through an angle of from 90 to to form lips 25 and 26 respectively. As will be noted from Figures 2 and 3, the channels are made progressively narrower so that it will be possible to nest or telescope a sufficient number of them to make when extended a full height door.

Near each end of the channel top 22 a horizontal strap or hanger 21 may be fastened with its ends projecting a very slight distance over the edges of channel top 22. The ends of the hangers 21 are bent down preferably at about so that when the series of channels is in extended position, that is when the door is closed, the hanger of each channel will catch and ride in the lips 25 and 26 of the channel into which the first channel is nested. It will be apparent, of course, that the hangers 27 may be a continuous sheet or strip the entire length of the channel but for economys sake, I prefer to make them of relatively narrow metallic strips using a pair for each channel. In assembling the door, the correct number of channels are nested or telescoped and inserted in the space provided in frame head In, the outermost of said channels having a width just sufficient to fill said space Without bending, thus allowing the channels to slide vertically in the guideways i1 and l8.

Returning now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that I provide two vertical shafts 28 and 29 which are threaded as screws and rest in fixed lower bearings 30 and 3!, and are journaled in upper bearings 32 and 33, which may be supported on straps l9 and 20. Near the upper end of shafts 28 and 29, a bevel gear is fastened as shown by numerals 34 and 35, adapted to mesh with corresponding bevel gears 33 and 31 fast to opposite ends of a horizontal shaft 39 journaled in brackets 40 and 4| fastened to guideways I! and [8. The lower portion of drive shaft 28 has a bevel gear 42 keyed to the shaft of a motor 44. Nuts 45 and 46 are threaded onto vertical shafts 28 and 29 respectively, each of said nuts having an extending finger 41 and 48 respectively protruding through the guideways l 1 and I3 respectively and adapted to connect in the lowermost channel. It will be evident that a rotation of the motor 44 will cause vertical shaft 28 to rotate which translates the motion to vertical shaft 29 through horizontal shaft 39. As the screw shafts 28 and 29 rotate, the nuts 41 and 48 which are prevented from rotation by the side strips of the guideways I l and i8, are caused to travel upward or downward depending on the direction of ro-, tation of the vertical shafts, thus raising or lowering the channels.

The outside portion of nut 41 is provided with an arm portion or lug 49 adapted to raise a contact 50 when the nut 4'! is at its uppermost position and adapted to depress a contact 5! when nut 41 travels down to its lowermost position. These contacts 50 and 5! are spring arms adapted to meet oppositely fixed contact points 52 and 53 respectively when in unstressed or normal position. The motor 44 is preferably reversible and can be hooked up with a two way switch as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. The switch may conveniently consist of terminal pairs 54 and 55, and lever arm 56. 1

When the door is open i. e. when the channels are all nested in the head I0, contact is made between points 5| and 53 through terminals 54 to the power line 51, when the switch arm 56 is in the position shown in Fig. 1. This energizes the motor 44 which rotates the shafts 28 and 29 to cause the nuts 4? and 48 to travel down their respective shafts, pulling the lowermost channel down, causing each channel in turn to drop down until its hangers ride in the lips of the next channel. When the nut 47 reaches its lowermost position, the lug 49 meets lower contact spring 5| and depresses it to break the motor circuit at that point.

When it is desired to raise the door to open position, the switch arm 56 is thrown over to close the circuit between terminals 55 so that the motor is energized through the circuit passing from the power line 5'! through the contact points 50 and 52, terminals 55, the motor and back to line 51. As the motor rotates, the nuts 45 and 46 travel up their respective screw shafts to raise the channels causing them to nest successively. When the nut 45 reaches its uppermost position, its lug 49 raises contact arm 50 to break the motor circuit and allow the channels to come to rest. It will be understood, of course, that the motor can be mounted in the door frame head if desired.

Referring now to Fig. 4, we see a slightly modified form of telescoping door which employs nested channels with a different type of hanger. A door frame is employed as previously described, but in this form the channels 2! do not have the bent lips 25 and 26 as in the other form, the sides being straight. If, however, it is desired to increase the rigidity of the channels, the lower ends of sides 23 and 24 can be bent under a desired amount, the bent portion of course corresponding to the lips necessarily used in the preferred form.

The top 22 of each channel has a portion cut away and in from each end, the depth or length of the cut-away portion increasing for each successive channel going from inside to outside of the nest, as shown best in Fig. 5. A hanger 58 preferably formed as a strip and having its opposite ends bent at a substantial angle say 90, is fastened to the top section 22 of each channel at the inner edge of each cut-away portion. This hanger 58 extends substantially vertically above the top 22 and is just a little shorter than the depth of the channel 2|. Its free end 59 which as mentioned is bent at approximately 90 then acts as a hook. The inner edge of the cut-away portions being successively nearer the center of successive channels, it will be seen that when the channels are telescoped that each hanger will be permitted to extend upwardly through the cutaway portions of the channels above it. This position is best shown in the right half of Fig. 4.

As the channels are extending or let down, the ends 59 of the two hangers 58 on the innermost and lowest channel will catch and nest on the inner edge of the cut-away portions of the next above channel which in turn will drop and its hangers will catch and hang on the one next above it and so on until all channels are down and the door is closed.

To insure the hangers 58 not being bent out of position so as to possibly not allow their ends 59 to seat properly, I may provide a strap or guide 60 which may be made of wire and. is preferably of a U-shape or rectangular shape. Two of these straps 60 are fastened on the top of each channel and extend out over the cutaway portion thereof just far enough to allow the hanger from the next lower channel to pass up through the space bounded by the strap. Consequently, when the channels are in extended position, their respective hangers are kept in place by the strap 60, on the next above channel. If desired the upper or catch portion 59 of hanger 58 may be bent back slightly as shown in Fig. 5, so as to insure their free passage past straps 60.

For the purpose of illustrating that the door may be operated in a variety of ways, I have shown the modified form just described as operated manually by virtue of a crank 6|, pulleys 62 and 63, and chain 64. It will be understood, of course, that the mechanical motivating means shown in Fig. 1' could be used with the modified form and vice versa.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I have shown a modified form of hanger for use with a type of channel that partakes of the characteristics of each of the forms already described. This form of channel is similar to the type shown in Figs. 1 and 3 in that the top portions need not be recessed or cut away except to provide passage for the pulley cable 64, if that type of motivating means is used. 0n the other hand, the channels need not have bent lips on them but can have straight sides as the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The style of hanger used is of the hinged type shown in Fig. '7 as extended and in Fig. 8 as closed. The hanger may be formed of two strips or plates 65 and 66 with one end of each swingably fixed to one end of the other by a pivot pin 61. The free end of hinge plate 65 is pivotally fastened to the under side of the top portion 22 of a channel 2| and the free end of hinge plate 66 is pivotally fastened to the upper face of the top 22 of the next lower channel 2|.

By comparing the open and closed positions as illustrated, it will be seen that starting with the door closed, that is with the channels extended, that each channel is hanging from the one above by its respective hinge hangers, the two plates 65 and 56 of which are swung out in line. When the lower channel is raised the hinge hanger folds by reason of the plates 65 and 66 pivoting about the pin 61 so that the plates 65 and 66 ultimately meet in a horizontal position allowing the channels to telescope within one another.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a telescoping door capable of performing the objects and attaining the advantages heretofore stated, and it is to be understood that the forms described herein are merely illustrative of the broad principle involved and are not to be taken as limiting in any sense the proper scope of my invention, which must be determined by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A closure device of the class described which includes: a frame; a plurality of nesting chan nels, each of said channels having curved lips on their lower ends and an overhanging strap on their upper portion positioned so that the strap on each channel will seat in the lips of the next higher channel, and means for raising and lowering said channels to and from nested position.

2. A closure device of the class described which includes: a frame; a plurality of nesting channels, each of said channels having inwardly curved lips on their lower ends and an overhanging strap on their upper portion positioned so that the strap on each channel will seat in the lips of the next higher channel, and means for raising and lowering said channels to and from nested position.

3. A closure device of the class described which includes: a frame; a plurality of nesting channels, each of said channels having curved lips on their lower ends and an overhanging strap on their upper portion positioned so that the strap on each channel will seat in the lips of the next higher channel, means in said frame for guiding the movement of said channels, and means for raising and lowering said channels to and from nested position.

4. A closure device of the class described which includes: a frame; a plurality of nesting channels, each of said channels having inwardly curved lips on their lower ends and an overhanging strap on their upper portion positioned so that the strap on each channel will seat in the lips of the next higher channel, means in said frame for guiding the movement of said channels, and means for raising and lowering said channels to and from nested position.

5. A closure device of the class described including: a frame supporting a plurality of nested channels, said channels comprising a recessed top plate, side plates integral therewith and an upstanding hanger with a hooked end adapted to contact the next higher channel in the series; and means for causing said channels to extend and collapse at will.

6. A closure device of the class described which includes: a frame; a plurality of integrally formed nesting channels hung one from another when in extended position; and means for raising and lowering said channels to and from nested position.

7. A closure device of the class described which includes: a frame; a plurality of integrally formed nesting channels hung one from another when in extended position; means for guiding the movement of said channels; and means for raising and lowering said channels to and from nested position.

8. A closure device of the class described which includes: a frame; a plurality of integrally formed nesting channels hung one from another when in extended position; means in said frame for guiding the movement of said channels; and means for raising-and lowering said channels to and from nested position.

9. A closure device of the class described which includes: a frame; a plurality of integrally formed nesting channels each of said channels having an outwardly extending portion adapted to engage the next outermost channel to support the same when said channels are in extended position; and means for raising and lowering said channels to and from nested position.

10. A closure device of the class described including: a frame supporting a plurality of nested channels, said channels comprising a recessed top plate, side plates integral therewith and an upstanding hanger with a hooked end adapted to contact the next higher channel in the series; guide straps for guiding said hangers; and means for causing said channels to extend and collapse at will.

11. A closure device of the class described which includes: a frame supporting a plurality of nested channels, each of said channels having hinge means connected to the next upper and lower channels, said means being so disposed that said channels are thereby supported by one another when in extended position; and means for raising and lowering said channels to and from nested position.

OSCAR SIMS. 

